Milton Berle

About Milton Berle

Milton Berle (born Milton Berlinger, July 12, 1908- March 27, 2002) was an American comedian and actor. As the host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater (1948-55), he was the first major American television star and was known to millions of viewers as 'Uncle Miltie' and 'Mr. Television' during TV's golden age. Milton Berlinger was born into a Jewish family in a five-story walkup at 68 W. 118th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. He chose Milton Berle as his professional name when he was 16. His father, Moses Berlinger (1873-1938), was a paint and varnish salesman. His mother, Sarah (Sadie) Glantz Berlinger (1877-1954), eventually became stagestruck and changed her name to Sandra Berle when Milton became famous.

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